In case you missed it, Scotland voted No, electing to remain in the British Union. The vote was 55% to 45%, with a voter turnout of 85%.

Oddly enough, two months later, I was asked to illustrate an essay by a young Scot who was attending grad school in the American South at the time of the Referendum. The author struggles with regret and guilt for not being there for the vote and its aftermath,
but remains confident that “the prodigal can always return.”

The essay was called Wild Are The Winds To Meet You, and you can read the entire essay here.

As mentioned in previous posts, many of my ideas are sparked by phrases or passages in the text. Here are the three illustrations I did for Wild Are The Winds, with each preceded by the passage that inspired it.

Within three months I was waist-deep in Tuscaloosa life and head-over-heels for a real Southern boy. Ten months later, he was gone. He was my previous self in reverse: in almost perfect symmetry he packed his life into one suitcase and flew to Glasgow for a masters in film studies, which had been my field for two years at St Andrews.

I could have given a master class in irony. Alanis Morissette would have learned a lot.

Alanis Morissette is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She achieved her greatest commercial success in the mid 1990’s. Her biggest hit single was Ironic.

You can create a rebus to spell out anything, really, but I wanted to keep it simple so it wouldn’t overwhelm the rest of the illustration. Hence “irony,” instead of “ironic.” My apologies to all you purists out there.

How accurate is the caricature? Here are some photos of Ms. Morissette.

(Scotland) may not be the land of blooming heather and shining river that the songs describe. It may, in many ways, be already broken. But what’s broken can be fixed… I told Tyler when he left that a goodbye can be an ellipsis.

I had to google ellipsis. I found out it’s something that I use all the time. Especially at the end of sentences…

I don’t think my “Goodbye…” qualifies as a rebus, but it must be a close cousin.

Using a tartan (what we Americans would call a plaid) was the best I could do for the ‘G.’ Bagpipes got pressed into service for a rather showy lower-case ‘o.’

Modern golf originated in Scotland, so a golf ball and club were perfect for the ‘od.’ That’s “St. Andrews” on the ball, a nod to what many consider the oldest golf course in the world.

I was stumped for a lower-case ‘b,’ until I thought of haggis, Scotland’s legendary “savoury pudding,” a delicacy decidedly not for the faint of heart (or stomach).

A thistle, Scotland’s national emblem, made a picturesque ‘y.’ I had to stretch the furthest for the lower-case ‘e’: a wee Scotsman wearin’ a tam o’shanter.

The three large dots on the end represent the ellipsis. So why did I include “sorta,” “kinda,” “maybe”? Because the goodbye may not be final.

Goodbye… is not the same as Goodbye. (period) The ellipsis says: Who knows? Perhaps we’ll meet again.

America has opened itself to me, as its old dream promises. For that I’m grateful, as I’m grateful to Scotland for folding my loved ones into its music.

I know above all things that the tune carries a refrain, if not the cry for freedom or unity, then a sustained note of welcome. The Atlantic can be the breath between verses. The lull before a song rejoins.

I heard the author saying that if you’re a Scot, you can go home again. You will always be welcome.

I like the imagery here: Scotland as bagpipes extending the note of welcome: a note that’s a Welcome mat with a little Scottish flag. The musical notes like stepping stones across the water. And Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster making her usual cameo appearance.

This is also a good example of how an illustrator sometimes has to creatively distort things to make them fit: I squeezed the United States’ continental land mass like an accordion, but it’s still recognizable… I think.

Here’s a detail image:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Have you ever been away when something important happened “back home”?

Have you had any experiences that struck you as truly ironic?

Have you ever eaten haggis and lived to tell about it??

Hope you’ll leave a comment.

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There was so much I can identify with in this post that I don’t really know where to begin. Having been very politically active in Scotland in my youth, I am very engaged in Scottish politics. I was very involved in the last Scottish referendum – the one regarding Devolution – so you can imagine how gutted I was to emigrate to America just in time to miss the Independence Referendum. I imagine I will have many more experiences where I am frustrated to be part of the diaspora but that was big one.

Yes, I have partaken of haggis and survived. I have not, however, eaten meat in many years so I have only eaten vegetarian haggis in recent decades. My husband (who is half English and half American) and my four kids all love haggis and very much miss it – since it cannot be imported into America, a legacy of mad cow disease that also prevents us from donating blood. The spicing of a haggis is lovely.

I particularly like your Scottish typography, it’s fun use of national stereotypes. The eliipsis component made me think of the Glaswegian phrase “maybes aye maybes naw”. I miss such Scottish patter.

Hi, Laura! I thought of you many times as I was writing this post, knowing you could surely identify with the author’s feelings. Years ago, I worked with a Scotsman who had a very mischievous sense of humor. You and he may have left the dear old homeland, but you are wonderful ambassadors.

Don’t think I’ve mentioned this before: back in the 80’s, I took one of those package bus tours of Scotland-England-Wales. So I’ve actually been to Scotland, seen the Firth of Forth, walked The Royal Mile, etc. We also had an “authentic Scottish dinner,” which included haggis. I’m embarrassed to say I don’t have a clear recollection of it– probably because it was all part of the tourist assembly line.

I liked “Maybes aye, maybes naw”– ha! I came across this one while researching the post: “Lang may yer lum reek”– which was translated as “Long may your chimney smoke.” Clearly this was stolen by Mr. Spock, who turned it into the much less colorful “Live long and prosper.” : )

“Lang may yer lum reek” is an oft used good luck toast. Scots is full of lovely, imagery rich sayings like that. My favourite Scottish saying is “Mony a mickle maks a muckle” meaning that lots of small things add up to something big. I believe the “mickle” is a corruption – probably for the love of alliteration – of “puckle” which is a word we use for a small amount of something – as in “he saved up a puckle of money to buy the book”. Perhaps that saying appeals to my thriftiness. I am also fond of “foggy bummer” which is a type of bee.

I am glad that you found haggis unmemorable. That at least means you did not find it grotesque. My husband was terrified of haggis when he first moved to Scotland but then he tried it and was converted. He loves it. Scotland actually produces some wonderful food but unfortunately we are known for eating entrails and deep fried chocolate bars.

Thanks for saying I am a good Ambassador for my homeland. I appreciate that.

For a non-Scottish audience, it might be still useful to mark a piece of land with “Scotland”..in your illustrations.

Some Canadians were curious about the Scottish referendum….because Canada had its referendum in Quebec twice, I believe if Quebecers wanted to separate from Canada.

No I’ve never had haggis. Not sure if I want this culinary joy. In Vancouver, BC, there has been an annual fun evening during Chinese New Year that blends Robbie Burns Day and Chinese New Year: Gung Haggis Fat Choy.

Fusion food, skits, song, music and good cheer. A sampling which I’ve never attended the annual event (there’s a fee for food):

Hi, Jean! It’s nice of you to speak up on behalf of the geographically-challenged… : )

I really busted out laughing when I read that bit about Gung Haggis Fat Choy!! Robbie Burns meets Chinese New Year– yow! Just when you think you’ve heard it all. I’ll definitely be attending this year, and I’m looking forward to some Sweet ‘n’ Sour Haggis!! : )

Good heavens, and great Zeus!! D’ye mean ta say that in addition to all your other talents, you also speak fluent phonetic Scots?? My dear Marina!! No wonder you’re considered The Great Cultural Ambassador on Mt. Olympus! You’re one of the very few people who can eat haggis, eat baklava, play the lyre, play the bagpipes, paint, sing, and juggle moonbeams, all at the same time!! To say you’re an ongoing inspiration would be an understatement… : )

Thanks for your burrrrrr-rootiful comment, and do excuse this hopelessly tardy reply!!

Aw, as always these are all awesome and excellent caricatures… love them all, especially the way you illustrated the word “Goodbye”… What? Just Wow! Amazing! You’re so good, well illustrated 🙂 I enjoyed this post.
Thanks so much too for your visit in my blog and always leaving me comments that make me smile from ear to ear… hehehehe… . I am at the moment busy at work so I don’t roam around to blogging community lately…. yet you find time to visit me, really I highly appreciated this from you my friend, I am so honored…
mmmwahhhh mmmwahhhh mmmwahhhhh

Nay, nay, no, nae, forsooth!– it is I who am honored by your visit here, my dear Dolly!! A visit by so illustrious a personality as yourself puts me over the moon, and it’s a good thing I was wearing my spacesuit, the one with the special jumbo pockets for donuts… : )

I, too, am way behind in visiting my dear blogger friends, so I understand completely. A person can only do so much, even acclaimed geniuses and achievers like us… : )

Always an exquisite pleasure to see you, and please keep prescribing haggis for your patients, to help fight tooth decay… mmmmmwahhh! mmmmwahhh! mmmmmmmmmmmmwahhhhhhh!!

Haggis has no hearts it it, but stomach and lungs of the sheep, yep. Don’t think I’ve ever technically had it– supposedly, it’s banned in the U.S.

And I’ve been taught that Nova Scotia has more people of Scottish descent than the old homeland, and that’s not counting east Canada, as well– there’s a Canadian fellow in my Twitter feed that has family back in Scotland. Based on everything he’s shared with me, yes, Scotland is always welcoming to its kin in North America.

My wife claims me for Clan Bruce, since Robert the Bruce is in her ancestry. She calls herself “Heinz 57” but my in-laws have strong Danish associations. Me, I’m mostly Danish; even my own bit of ancestry in Scotland technically has Danish connections (through the Picts that intermarried with the Celts).

Hi, Jak! You’re absolutely right: Scots are the largest ethnic group in Nova Scotia, comprising almost 30% of the population. And as you probably know Nova Scotia literally translates as New Scotland– it all fits!! : )

I’m no genealogist, but based on my grandparents’ heritage, I figure I’m three-quarters Irish, one-quarter Scots-English. Except when I’m in a bakery, then I’m 95% “Danish”– yum! : )

Thank you very much! Is it one of those awards where you have to reveal deep dark secrets about yourself? I revealed 7 secrets about myself in this prior post. I can’t reveal more at this time because it would cause a sensation, and I’d have to go on talk shows and say all sorts of stupid things. I just don’t have the constitution for it… : )

By George, I think you’ve got it. Mark, you’ve outdone yourself. Alanis Morissette never looked better, ironically. The Scot was and the Loch Ness monster wearin’ a tam, golf and even haggis – which I avoided just because of the description … spot on. The ellipses also hits the perfect note. You can never really say goodbye to a place or person you love. 😉

Thank you, Judy!– and 10 slaps with a wet sea monster’s tail for yours truly, for being so late in responding to your comment! Your “Alanis Morissette never looked better, ironically” made me roar with approval. Now that’s what I call an iron-clad pun… : )

And I loved your sentiment about never really being able to say goodbye to something you love. One must leave the door open, especially the door to one’s heart…

I can report proudly that I ate haggis and survived. To me it isn’t so bad, I have to admitt, I liked it much more than the bony fish for breakfast!
Your letters are a wonderful made. Well ,I can not realy draw but I found out how difficult it is to bring illustrated characters in a decent order.
Like always, your post made me smile 😉